The start of the 2024 NFL season started with NFL free agency but on the field starts with offseason activities (OTAs). Strictly voluntary, no matter how much some fans and media expect mandatory participation, each team has a nine-week offseason program broken up into three phases:
- Meetings, rehab and strength and conditioning
- On-field workouts with individual and group drills at a walkthrough pace with no live contact or offense vs defense drills
- 10 days of organized practices (officially OTAs) with no contact but offense versus defense drills are permitted
For the Cleveland Browns, in their first potential chance to see WR Jerry Jeudy, QB Jameis Winston, LB Jordan Hicks and other newbies, offseason activities (phase 1) starts on April 15th.